Award-Winning: Proud to be a Part!

Somehow I have not shared these photos with you yet...unless you've seen them on any of our (mine, Storly's or Radio 4VEH's) Facebook pages.  

The NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee, (22-25 Feb) is a big deal in the calendar of anyone in Christian radio who's able to attend. For us 'little fish' from a radio station in Haiti to the biggest of big fish in Christian media, it's a time of coming together, uniting, worshiping together, learning from each other, sharing the joys and the challenges of working as communicators in different fields and places around the world. 

And this year's Convention was even more special for these reasons: 

• we got another award (did I mention that already!?)
• we grew some deeper connections with ministry partners 
• we had good company for all or part of the Convention - Witny Telfort (4VEH operations manager, on his first visit to the USA, an eye-opening experience in many ways, including how cold it was), John & Karine McLaughlin (John's been head of 4VEH advisory board for a long time), and Dave & Marilyn Shaferly (former OMS Haiti field director & 4VEH station manager)

It was my 4th Convention, Storly's 3rd, but Marilyn first went to NRB before either Storly or I were born! So us Radio 4VEH-ers are not newbies at NRB. 

An appropriate reminder as the award presented to Radio 4VEH this year was a Milestone Award, recognizing more than 50 years of faithful service in Christian broadcasting. 4VEH celebrates 64 years in ministry in June. And there should be many, many more hands holding the award for all the people who've served at Radio 4VEH over the years. 

Storly, with NRB President Dr. Jerry Johnson (l) and NRB Chairman Rich Bott (r)

4VEH delegation with NRB President Dr. Jerry Johnson (l) and NRB Chairman Rich Bott (r).
4VEH delegation: Dave & Marilyn Shaferly, me, Storly, Witny Telfort, Karine and John McLaughlin.
(Photo courtesy of the National Religious Broadcasters)

Recipients of the NRB 2014 Milestone Awards:
Guidelines International Ministries
LIFE Outreach International Association of Churches
Radio 4VEH, The Evangelistic Voice of Haiti
Jerry Rose, Total Living Network
Teen Challenge International USA

I was poised, ready to take photos of Storly going up onto the stage to receive
the award. But then I heard the announcement "Radio 4VEH, presented to
Storly & Kate Michel" and realized I needed to go up there too!

It was a wonderful dinner event to end the Convention. 

With our ministry partner Rev. Tim Whitehead, Exec Director of
Galcom International, the fabulous people who make the solar radios
we use in Haiti. 

Ministry partner Ron Harris obviously saying something funny. Ron's doing
great stuff through MEDIAlliance International in training, mentoring and
encouraging people working in Christian media around the world,
 including us. 

John McLaughlin & Storly, proud. 

Storly & Marilyn, who served in Haiti (at 4VEH) for much of the time recognized
by this long service award. 

It's fantastic to be working together in this ministry! 

Witny, 4VEH operations manager. 

Praise the Lord! 

Women of Hope

We had the pleasure of meeting with Marli Spieker, executive director of Project Hannah, a ministry of Trans World Radio, that  is reaching out with compassion and hope to suffering women across the globe living in spiritual darkness. Radio 4VEH already produces and broadcasts the Creole version of a Project Hannah program, Women of Hope, but we'd never met Marli before. 

Her passion & her vision for using radio programs, prayer & raising awareness of the plight of women around the world is contagious. And we want to see a greater impact to bring to women suffering in Haiti. Plans are coming together! 

We enjoyed hearing Mark Burnett & Roma Downey talk about their
to-be-released Son of God movie, which we also got to watch at a pre-screening.
Definitely worth seeing. 

Were blessed to hear Michael W. Smith perform. I'd had some contact with him
via his agent, inviting him to perform at 4VEH's 60th Anniversary back in 2010.
He was interested, but schedule didn't work out. Appreciated his songs live!

Joni Earreckson Tada performed her song "Alone Yet Not Alone"
from the movie by the same name. 

At the exposition, Storly & John enjoyed playing with tech toys like headphones.

...while I enjoyed hanging out and being interviewed by Billy Irvin (l) of Faith Radio (Montgomery, AL),
along with Tom Blackstone, Exec director of Galcom USA.
We talked about using solar radios in Haiti, and in prison ministry in the USA.
(We partner with Faith to broadcast their radio programming in Cap-Haitien
for English speakers and learners). 

And I enjoyed talking again with Janet Parshall,
host of "In the Market with Janet Parshall" on Moody Radio.  A great lady!

One final thing. 

Because Mum came to visit and look after the girls while Storly and I were at the Convention (thanks Mum!), we got to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary in style. And yes, with thousands of fellow Christian broadcasters.

When I posted this lovely photo on Facebook, lots of people commented how I matched the flowers. Just in case you're thinking it was planned in advance, and we're having some romantic dinner or something, I need to tell you this: I crashed a meeting that Storly & Witny were having to say, ooh, nice flowers, quick, let's get our picture taken.

That's us, grabbing sweet moments on the fly. 

As we head into Good Friday tomorrow, and then Resurrection Sunday, we hope you'll grab some sweet moments with our Saviour. We wish you and yours a very Happy Easter. 

P.S. 

This time 4 years ago, I was preparing to take the 1st short-term missions team from our church CCC to Haiti to serve with Radio 4VEH in sharing the Gospel and giving out solar radios. Melissa Gross was on that 1st team. Next week, I lead our 8th team to do the same, but WHAT A BONUS, we get to visit with Melissa & Steve (& kiddos) who are now missionaries serving as teachers at the OMS school since August. How cool is that!!